As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2 CENTERPOINTE CHURCH 2019 40-DAY DEVOTIONAL WEEK 4
JANUARY 21 EXPERIENCE JESUS SACRIFICE Matthew 26:28, Then he (Jesus) took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you.this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22, The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Receiving communion in church is one of the most unifying and unique acts we do when we come together. It is more than just another religious obligation. When I introduce communion in a service, I often liken it to a family reunion where people sit around the table telling the same familiar stories and enjoying them as if they heard them for the first time. In communion, the church family symbolically gathers around the table of grace. We tell the same story about Jesus sacrifice, and it is meaningful every time. As we eat the bread, we remember the body of Jesus that was broken for us. As we drink the juice, we are reminded of the new covenant, sealed with His blood. When I was a child, I thought he reason Jesus came was to literally save sheep from being slaughtered. I knew the story quite well: Jesus became the sacrificial lamb, and when Jesus died on the cross, we no longer needed to kill a lamb. It wasn t until I was older that I began to realize that the one who Jesus came to save was me, not the sheep. When a sacrifice was offered to God for sin, with the purpose of restoring a relationship with Him, it was called atonement. The root idea of atonement is to cover or to conceal. Atonement suggests a covering that conceals a person s sin and makes it possible for him or her to approach God. The covenant relationship between God and man depended on the shedding of blood. The weakness of the sacrificial system was its constant need for sin offerings. Although sacrifices continued to be offered, there was no change in people s behavior. The sacrifices of the Old Testament only covered and concealed sin. Jesus ushers in a new covenant. He came to take away sins through the sacrifice of Himself, not just cover it. What ancient sacrifices foreshadowed, Christ accomplished! By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy (Hebrews 10:14). Find a quiet space and listen to: Oh the Blood by Gateway Worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc59rgmcu34 O the blood. Crimson love. Price of life's demand Shameful sin placed on Him, the hope of every man O the blood of Jesus washes me O the blood of Jesus shed for me What a sacrifice that saved my life! Yes, the blood, it is my victory Savior Son, Holy One Slain so I can live See the Lamb: The great I Am Who takes away my sin O the blood of the Lamb O the blood of the Lamb O the blood of the Lamb The precious blood of the Lamb What a sacrifice, that saved my life Yes, the blood, it is my victory O what love, No greater love Grace, how can it be That in my sin Yes, even then He shed His blood for me For further study read: Leviticus 4:26; Hebrews 10:1-10; Romans 3:25-26 REFLECTION JAN 21 Based on what you have read and what God is saying to you, what decision do you need to make?
JANUARY 22 EXPERIENCE JESUS ABUNDANT AND ETERNAL LIFE John 1:4, In him was life, and that life was the light of men. REFLECTION JAN 22 How does the thought of eternity impact your life today? John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV) John 11:25-26, Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. When Jesus said he came to give us abundant life, what does that mean to you? Would you say you are living an abundant life? Why or why not? John 20:31, But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Followers of Jesus live their lives from a different point of view. They live with eternity in mind. When there is confidence in tomorrow, today becomes more meaningful. From the passages above, it is clear that the Apostle John wanted to make sure we understand that the fullness of life on earth, as well as eternal life, is found only in a relationship with Jesus. The moment we decide to follow Jesus, the full life of God comes in. Oswald Chambers calls this the Co-Eternal Life. He writes: Jesus came to give us endless supplies of life: that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Eternal Life has nothing to do with Time, it is the life which Jesus lived when He was down here. The only source of Life is the Lord Jesus Christ. Based on what you have read and what God is speaking to you, how might you become a better reflection of Jesus for those around you? The weakest saint can experience the power of the Deity of the Son of God if once he is willing to let go. Any stand of our own energy will blur the life of Jesus. We have to keep letting go, and slowly and surely the great full life of God will invade us in every part, and men will take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus. *Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, pg 103
JANUARY 23 EXPERIENCE JESUS KINGDOM Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. REFLECTION JAN 23 What does it look like for you to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? Jesus made the kingdom of God a central theme in His preaching (Mark 1:14-15). What did Jesus mean? The Kingdom Jesus spoke about was not a geographical area such as the Holy Land or the temple. In fact, it is independent of geography and political entities. The kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God in our lives. to seek first the Kingdom is to make His rule our priority ahead of everything else. One significant meaning of seeking is: "to beat the covers for birds." It is a description of a sportsmen s method. On Saturdays during the fall, my uncles would take my cousins and me hunting. We would take the dogs to a cornfield and walk near the hedges looking to scare out a few rabbits. There were many occasions when my uncles would send us boys into the thickets. We experienced such joy when we saw the bushes rustle. A fluffy cottontail would dart out, throwing the dogs barking and my uncles shooting. We had a priority for our day, and we were prepared to wade swamps, climb stumps, push through brier, watch, wait, wriggle, and do everything but fail. We were focused and persistent. To "seek first" indicates not good and bad, or right and wrong, but rather a first and second. God does not forbid us from things we enjoy, but they do need to be in their proper place. The Kingdom of God is not set in opposition to the possessions of this world; it is placed above them. It is higher than the physical and the material. It has to do with the essential purpose of man - a life that is more than simple existence. Review the last seven days. Can you honestly say the Kingdom of God was your highest priority? Based on what you have read and what God is saying to you, what decisions do you need to make? We make a choice to put the Kingdom of God first at the moment of our conversion to a Christian life, and it is also a choice that we need to make on a daily basis. As Paul writes, the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). Seeking first the kingdom of God, full of righteousness, peace, and joy, is my life s top priority.
JANUARY 24 EXPERIENCE JESUS PRAYER John 17:20 23, My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (Adapted from Max Lucado, https://maxlucado.com/pray-for-unity) On the last night of his life, Jesus prayed a prayer that stands as a citadel for all Christians. Knowing the end was near, he prayed one final time for his followers. He did not pray for success, prosperity, safety, or even happiness. He prayed that His followers would be unified in love. Of all the lessons we can draw from this verse, don t miss the most essential: unity matters to God. Why? Because all people will know that you are my followers if you love each other (John 13:35 NCV). Unity creates belief. How will the world believe that God sent Jesus? The world won t believe because we agree with each other, solve every controversy, are unanimous on each decision, and correct on every doctrine. Instead, they will know we are believers by our love for each other. REFLECTION JAN 24 Do you see yourself as a part of the unified Body of Christ? How do you think we can encourage unity within the local church so that Jesus is glorified? Pray that Jesus prayer in John 17:20-23 would be answered for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Could it be that unity is the key to reaching the world for Christ? The world will be won for Christ when the Church is one in Christ. If unity is the key to evangelism, shouldn t it have precedence in our prayers? Shouldn t we, as Paul said, make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3 NIV)? God s ship is a grand vessel. Just as a ship has many rooms, so God s Kingdom has room for many opinions. But just as a ship has one deck, God s Kingdom has a common ground: the all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Based on what you have read and what God is saying to you, what decisions do you need to make?
JANUARY 25 EXPERIENCE JESUS MISSION Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. REFLECTION JAN 25 Name some people in your circle of influence who have not yet invited Jesus into their lives and hearts. Luke 15:1-24 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. In Luke 15, Jesus uses three illustrations to demonstrate His love for lost people. The shepherd searches for the one lost sheep that goes astray. The woman went into an all-out search for a lost coin. The Father waited patiently and lovingly for his son to return home. The sheep, the coin, and the son all had value. All were loved and needed. Scripture refers to people who do not yet have a relationship with Jesus as lost. Luke points out that lost people matter to God, so they should matter to us. I heard it once said, We never lock eyes with someone who doesn t matter to God. The first priority of the Church must be the same as the priority of Jesus the lost. By the end of this week, a million souls will slip into eternity. They will either spend it in the presence of Jesus or in separation from Him forever. Lost people are not just in far remote corners of the world; they are all around us. Some may live in the same household as we do. Some may work with us or live next to us. Some may even go to church with us. Jesus is the only hope for lost people, and we are the messengers of his love and care for them. If the salvation of the lost was Jesus top priority, it must be ours as well. What are some creative ways that you can share your faith with these people? Based on what you have read and what God is saying to you, what decisions do you need to make? The Great Commission is not an option for us; it is a command. Jesus says, Go and make disciples of all nations. Jesus calls us to partner with Him to complete His heart s goal reaching the lost.
JANUARY 26 EXPERIENCE JESUS COMMISSION Matthew 28:16 20, Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.when they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. The Great Commission is the end of Matthew s gospel and the beginning of faith in action for all Christians. Jesus did not tell us to build extravagant buildings, gather large crowds, or sing contemporary songs. Jesus gave us one goal: make disciples. Furthermore, he did not say that it is a job for pastors and missionaries; it is for all who are followers of Jesus. Just like the commandments were not the ten suggestions, the great commission is not just a good idea. J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was an English missionary to China who founded the China Inland Mission, which at his death included 205 mission stations with over 800 missionaries and 125,000 Chinese Christians. He said, "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed." REFLECTION JAN 26 When you leave our times of corporate worship and teaching, how are you investing in others? Is the Great Commission a part of how you conduct your life? If not, how can you incorporate the commissioning of Jesus into your lifestyle? Our assignment is to carry out God s mission, which includes two primary objectives: 1) to spread the gospel to all nations, and 2) to nurture those who receive the gospel so that they grow into spiritual maturity. It is about evangelism and discipleship. This is why I love being part of a great fellowship called the Assemblies of God. We are committed to the work of missions. In 2000, a vision statement was written that included this passage: We commit ourselves with an unrelenting passion to the great cause of worldwide missions. The Lord of the harvest clearly spoke to the hearts of our founding fathers that our church shall, without reservation, be of one mind in the task of world missions. We pledge the greatest of all investments men and women who will take their places in the vast, unreached fields of end-time harvest. Based on what you have read and what God is saying to you, what decisions do you need to make? Jesus said that all authority in heaven and earth had been given to him. It is this authority that sends us, and empowers us to carry out God s mission to the nations, both at home and abroad.
JANUARY 27 SUNDAY MESSAGE NOTES SMALL GROUP NOTES Scripture(s): Key Notes: